Children's Vaccines Health Center

Vaccines for Teens: Still Room for Improvement

Teen Vaccine Rates Vary by State

Vaccine coverage rates also varied widely by states, the study showed.

Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia had the highest rates. More than 65% of teens got at least one dose of all three recommended teen vaccines in these states. These numbers still fall short of goals set by the government in its HealthyPeople 2020 campaign.

Overall, teen vaccine rates were lower for teens living in the Southeastern U.S. compared with other areas.

Teen vaccine rates based on the type of vaccine also varied by state -- sometimes by dozens of percentage points -- the study showed.

So why are some states doing so much better than others? School vaccination programs, reminders, and good communication between doctors and local public health officials may make a difference, the study suggests.

The CDC has tracked teen vaccine rates since 2006. The new findings appear in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.